That teaches children "constructive conflict resolution," which they can then apply to their friendships and future romantic relationships.

In the study, children who don't see the entire argument, or who see just the beginning but not the resolution, can become overly dramatic in their conflicts, he said. They may become more erratic in their behavior, and their relationships may suffer.

Boys and girls react differently to parental conflicts, he added.

Boys show more anxiety in the short term and rebound faster, and while girls may not seem as affected initially, the conflict depresses them for at least a couple of weeks, he said.

"Boys tend to get more anxious and recover more quickly," Bronson said. "Girls get sad and depressed."

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